| 28 April 2011
Ranked No. 6 in the latest Seattle Times high school baseball rankings, the Edmonds-Woodway (12-3) baseball team has its eyes set on a state championship. Seniors Derek Callahan (pictured right) and Austin "Bubba" Jones (pictured left) have both been key to the teams success. Callahan will pitch and play center fielder for Gonzaga next year, while Jones will head down to play first base and outfield for Arizona. The two have been playing baseball together since they were nine years old. We had the lucky opportunity to talk with both Callahan and Jones to discuss baseball, life, and what the future holds for the two young talents.
Check out our interview after the jump!
SEATOWN SPORTS: How's the season going so far your team?
AUSTIN JONES: We are playing very well as a team so far, and everybody knows their role and performs.
DEREK CALLAHAN: We are 12-3 overall. Yes, everything is clicking and we are working together to put up W's.
SS: What were the team's expectations and or goals going into the season?
AJ: I think our number one goal was/is to make the playoffs, we haven't been in three years i believe. I think that was our main goal
DC: We really didn't want to put any expectations or goals on our team this year. Instead we focused on everyone fulfilling their role on the team of what they individually had to do for the TEAM to have success. With only having 3 seniors on the team, Austin and I knew we had to show leadership to these young guys and they have been very receptive so far. We play loose and just worry about what each of us has to do to get the win on any given night.
SS: How long have you guys known each other?
AJ: I believe Derek came to my school in second grade, so we've known each other for about 10 years, and we've played baseball together since we were nine.
DC: Yeah, we have been best friends since second grade. And have either been teammates or on separate summer teams that were arch rivals. But having Bubba catching for me all throughout little league and now in high school has been great. I really feel comfortable with him handling me.
SS: Austin, how'd you get the nickname Bubba?
AJ: Well when I was born, I was pretty much a big ball. That nickname has stuck with me throughout my baseball career, and nobody really knows me as Austin in the baseball world.
SS: Haha, so if you make it to the majors will your baseball card say Bubba Jones?
AJ: I think if I get that opportunity, then yeah, it will say Bubba Jones.
SS: Do you guys train together during the off-season?
DC: We play on separate teams for summer ball. But yes, pre-season we play long-toss and hit in the cages. And pretty much every weekend we hangout together.
SS: You guys still find time for your social lives during baseball season? Or is it school, homework, and baseball all spring?
DC: I try to stay as well rounded as I can. It's hard during the season cause you must stay focused on school, baseball, and then friends and the social life. It's all about managing your time well and recognizing what is most important.
SS: What do you guys like to do when you're not doing baseball?
DC: I enjoy spending my free time with my family and friends. Me, Bubba, and a couple other guys from our team also like to have a NCAA 2006 College baseball tournament on the old X-Box at each other's houses. I try to relax and live a normal life as a teenager when away from the game.
SS: Nice. Do you guys have different colleges you stick to in the video game?
AJ: We just find two equal teams, and then play with those!
DC: Yeah. Occasionally we will go head to head with each other and play with the Zags vs. Wildcats. But mostly we try to stay away from beating up on eachothers team's and just stick with teams like Texas and Miami haha.
SS: Derek, you're off to Gonzaga and Austin, you're off to Arizona...take us through your individual decisions to go play baseball there.
AJ: I got offers from Gonzaga, University of Portland, Azusa Pacific and Arizona. I was originally going to head to Portland, but my grades were just below what they needed to be, and Gonzaga wasn't a good enough offer for me. Azusa wasn't the level of baseball I wanted to play at after high school. And with Arizona, I got a scholarship and a great opportunity to play my freshman year in the Pac-12 conference. So I chose Arizona!
(Gonzaga's Baseball Stadium)
DC: I was looking at UW, WSU, Oregon, Oregon St., Santa Clara, Portland and Gonzaga. In the end Portland and Gonzaga both offered me full ride scholarships. After visiting couple of times in Spokane and seeing their state of the art Patterson Complex and Washington Trust field, and meeting the coaches, I felt right at home and commited to becoming a Zag.
SS: Did you guys have any influence on each other's decisions? Couldn't see each other playing together at Portland or Gonzaga?
DC: Yes, actually the Gonzaga coach came to see Bubba and ended up liking me. It would be amazing if we could both play college ball together but it ended up being the right situation for me to attend Gonzaga and for Bubba to go to Arizona. Now we just gotta work on our coaches and try to get a series scheduled between our teams!
SS: So what are some other of the top local high school baseball players in your guys' opinions?
DC: Shorewood and Redmond have both really good trio of guys. From Shorewood (Blake Snell Kevin Morarity and Trevor Mitsui) and Redmond (Dylan Davis Michael Conforto and Zach Abbruzza) are all really good players that I have played with and competed against since we were little kids. All those players are going D-1 and probably all are going to get drafted.
SS: Favorite baseball players?
DC: Ken Griffey Jr. and Jon Lester.
AJ: Jim Thome
SS: Anything else you'd guys like to say? Any shout-outs?
AJ: Shout out to Seth Heck (Kamiak High School), the best infielder I've played with. A great hitter, and the most underrated player in the northwest. He's a boss.
DC: Thanks Kevin for doing this interview. I would like to thank my family for giving me this opportunity to do what I love, and my friends who have been my rock and held me down. I appreciate life every single day, and strive to live everyday to its fullest!
